Cutting device



D- 19, 1933- B. A. RAlNwATER 1,940,270

CUTTING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1931 A 7- rafa/viv Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED i STATES CUTTING DEVICE Bertram A. Rainwater, Clayton, Mo. Application June 15, 1931.V serial No. 544,395

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to cutting devices, and more specifically to an` improved cutting device which is unusually well adapted for use in cutting relatively heavy cardboard and other materials which heretofore were cut` only with the greatest of diflculty becauseof the inadequate cutting devices formerly employed, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a simple and inexpensive cutting device which will eiiiciently perform the function for which it is intended. Y Y

Artists and sign Writers, who engage Vin thev business of preparing show cards and display signs of various sorts,'are required to cut sheets of cardboard to various predetermined sizes and shapes. The sections of cardboard Vso cut are frequently of rather complex outline, and usually are provided with bevel edges, allof'which renders the task of cutting the sections a painstaking and laborious one unless the persons performing the cutting operations areV provided with cutting devices which are capable of i efficient performance of `their function. Prior to this invention rthe Ycutting devices used dfor cutting the sections .of cardboard referred to have not been capable of the desired eillcientuse,` hence the cutting of the sections of cardboard has been considered a laborious task to `be avoided whenever possible.

In view of the foregoing, Ihave devised the improved cutting device disclosed herein,'which is of such improved construction and arrangement as to perform its function in a very eflicient manner and with the minimum of effort. This results in the task vof cutting the sections of cardboard being simplified tothe point where it is not longer considered undesirable work, and said cutting is so efficiently doneY as to greatly improve the artistic value of the show cards or display signs. I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved cutting device.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of. Fig. 1.-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the blade extended from the opposite end of the handle portion of the cutting device.

In the drawing, wherein is lshown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention,\A designates the improved cutting device generally, said cutting device comprising a handle portion B and a blade C. The handle portion B of the cutting device is composed of a pair of handle elements 1 and 2Which contact with-each other at substantial portions of their inner faces toprovide a unitary handle portion.

The handle portion is so shaped as to fit properly within the hand of a person employing the cutting device in performing cutting operations, and preferablythe handle elements 1 and 2 are cut away to provide angularly disposed edges 3 which are located at one end ofthe handle portion A.

k At their inner faces the handle elements 1 and 2 are provided with depressions 4 and 5 which extend from end to end of said handle elements, as shown in Fig. 2.` When the handle elements are arranged in their associated relation the depressions 4 and 5 cooperate with each4 other to produce avcavity 6, which extends from end to end of the handle portion B, the transverse dimension of said cavity being less than the transverse dimension ofthe handle portion, as` shown in Fig. 3, toprovide longitudinally extended portions Where the inner faces of the handle elements 1 and 2 'contact with each other. 'I'he handle elements 1 and 2 are secured together to provide a unitary. handle portion by means of rivets `or other suitable elements 7.

Disposed in the cavity 6 within the handle portionl B is the blade C of the cutting device which `has already, been referred to herein. The blade `C is of substantial length 4and is provided withinclined edges 8 at its opposite ends, which are s arranged that the blade is provided with a short longitudinaledge 9 and a longer longitudinalV edge 10, the' latter edge being sharpened to provide a cutting edge. `The blade C is of such transverse dimension with relation to the transverse dimension of the cavity 6 that it is capable of sliding longitudinallyfof said cavity.

Arranged within the cavity 6 in the handle portion B of the cutting device A is a plate 1l, which is substantially the same length as saidl cavity. The plate 11 is of substantially the same transverse dimension as the blade C, as `shown in Fig. 3, and said plate contacts closely with said blade. Also, the plate 11 is provided with an angularly arranged edge at one end which corresponds to the angular end portion 3 of the handle portion, and a square cut opposite. end which corresponds to the square cutV end of said handle portion. The plate 11 is provided Vwith a pin 12 which is rigidly fixed thereto, said pin being extended into a recess 13 `formed in the handle element 1 at the inner face thereof. The function of the .pin 12 and the recess 13 is to prevent the plate 11 from being displaced from the cavity 6 ofthe handle portion B, yas said plate is of such dimensions that'it is capable of moving within said cavity, and in the absence of the pin and recess, or some equivalent means to prevent it, the plate 11 would slide longitudinally from the cavity and perhaps be lost. In assembling the handle portion B of the cutting device the plate 11 is located in the depression 4 of the handle element 1 with the pin 12 extended into the recess 13. The handle element 2 is then riveted to the handle element 1, as already explained, to produce the unitary handle portion B, and as the pin 12 isof such length that a portion thereof will remain in the recess regardless of the position of the plate, said plate is prevented from passing from the cavity 6.

The cavity 6 within the handle portion Bof the cutting device is of slightly greater depth than the combined thicknesses of the blade C and the plate 11, as shown in Fig. 3, and 14 designates clamping screws which extend through screw-threaded openings formed in the handle element 1 and Contact at their inner ends lwith the plate 11. The clamping screws are provided with the usual Vtool-receiving grooves atvtheir outer ends, and said outer ends are exposed' at the'side face of the handle element 1.

In the use of my improved cutting device the clamping screws 14 are unscrewed slightly and the blade C may then bemoved longitudinally of the cavity 6 vin the handle portion B to locate the blade in the desired position, after which the 'clamping' screws may be screwed inwardly to force the plate `11 against the blade and thus securely fix said blade in the position to which it has been adjusted. Because of the presence of the angularly disposed .edges 3 at one end of the handle portion the user of the device may Y position certain of his fingersimmediatelyabove the portion of the cutting edge which is performing the cutting operation, whereby leverage strains on the Wrist ofthe user are eliminated. Also, due to the inclined edges 8 at the opposite ends of the blade, sharp points are provided at said opposite ends of the blade which are useful in penetrating the material being severed to start a cut. Due to the fact that because only one end of the handle portion is provided with the angularly disposedv edges 3, a user of the device who prefers a square cut handle portion may reverse the handle portion and extend the blade beyond the square cut end 15 thereof as suggested in Fig. 4.

, An important feature of the invention resides in the fact thatthe blade C is formed of thin material, and as an end portion of said blade becomes excessively worn through use, the handle portion of the device may be gripped tightly and the extended portion of the blade struck a sharp blow. This will result vin the extended portion of the blade being broken oiafter which the blademay be moved longitudinallyof the handle portion to project a new portion of the blade beyond said handle portion. In this connection the blade may be reversed so that its cutting edge 10 is at the top when viewed as shown in Fig. 1 and the angularly disposed edges 3 will serve as breaking* edges along which the blade will break when struck a blow as just explained. From the foregoing it is plain that the successive portions of the blade may be used and then broken off luntil substantially the entire cutting edge of the blade has been used for cutting materials. v

While I have stated that my improved cutting device is particularly well adapted for use in cutting cardboard in making show cards and display signs, I desire that it be understood that the cutting device is not limited to such use, but has Wide application in numerous fields where cutting devices of this type are employed.

I claim:

1. A cutting device comprising a handle portion provided With a cavity formed longitudi nally therethrough,A an elongated blade disposed within said cavity and arranged for longitudinal movement therein so as to permit of said blade being extended from said handle portion at either end thereof, a flat plate also located within said cavity and adapted to contact substan- 'tially throughout its entire width and length with said blade, said plate being of less length than said cavity sol that it does not extend beyond the cavity at either end of the handle portion, means for loosely connecting said plate to said handle portion Vin a manner to permit movement of said plate in a straight line transversely of said cavity, and means for forcing said plate into close frictional contact with said blade so as to clamp said blade in various positions to which it may be'adjusted.

2. A cutting device comprising a handle portion provided with a cavity -formed longitudinally therethrough, an elongated blade disposed within said cavity and arranged for longitudinal movement therein so as to permit of said blade being extended from said handle portion at either end thereof, a flat Vplate also located within said cavity and adapted to contact substantially throughout its entire length and Width with said blade, said plate being of less length than said cavity so that it does not extend beyond the cavity at either end of the handle portion, means for loosely connecting said plate to said handle portion in a manner to permit movement of said plate in a straight line transversely of said cavity, and means comprising a screw-threaded element for forcingsaid plate into close frictional contact with said blade so as to clamp said blade in various positions to which it may be adjusted.

3; `A cutting device comprising a handle portion provided with a cavity formed longitudinally therethrough, an elongated blade disposed Within said cavity and arranged for longitudinal movement therein, so as to permit of said blade being extended from said handle portion at either' end thereof, a flat plate also located within said cavity and adapted to contact substantially throughout its entire length and Width with said blade, said plate being of less length than saidv cavity so that it doesnot extend bebeyond the cavity at either end of the handle portion, means for loosely connecting said plate to said handle portion in a manner to permit movement of said plate in a straight line transversely of said cavity, said means comprising an extension on said plate Ywhich is extended into a recess formed in a portion of said handle extension on said plate which is extended into a recess formed in a portion of said handle portion; and means comprising a. screw-threaded element for forcing said plate into close fric-v tional oontact with said blade so as to clamp said blade in various positions to which it may be adjusted.

BERTRAM A. RAINWATER. 

